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Tornado in Seward County, Kansas
39 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 39 tornado events in Seward County, Kansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 27 years.
May is the busiest month, with 13 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 8 events against 18 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 4,965 tornado events recorded in Kansas; its 6.1 per 100 square miles compares with 6.1 statewide.
By rating: 14 at (E)F0, 13 at (E)F1, 6 at (E)F2, 3 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 3 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Kansas
| Measure | Seward County | Kansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 39 | 4,965 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.1 | 6.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 17.9 | 16.9 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 238 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
1Mar
2Apr
5May
13Jun
7Jul
4Aug
4Sep
0Oct
1Nov
1Dec
1
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 39 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Feb 2023 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Dec 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Nov 2015 | Tornado | EF3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2005 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2005 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2003 | Tornado | F2 | $8.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2003 | Tornado | F2 | $6.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2003 | Tornado | F2 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2000 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 7 May 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1996 | Tornado | F2 | $200K | $140K | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1996 | Tornado | F1 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 1994 | Tornado | F2 | $50K | — | — | 8 | County |
| 6 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1974 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 3 Jul 1967 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1955 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1955 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 1954 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1953 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1951 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Seward County had?
39 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Seward County?
26 Feb 2023 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Seward County?
The tornado of 15 May 2003, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $8.0M.
How does Seward County compare with Kansas for tornado?
6.1 events per 100 square miles against 6.1 statewide; the county holds 39 of the state's 4,965 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.